“It was a huge honour for me to be asked by Sir Bobby’s family to join his charity as patron and I was very happy to accept,” said Shearer. “Sadly nobody goes through their lives unaffected by cancer and I’m proud that there are experts working towards a cure for the disease here in the North East. Bobby was, quite rightly, incredibly proud of what his charity had achieved and I’m just as proud now to be asked to help carry on his fight against cancer.”

“Speaking for both my family and the charity we’re extremely happy and grateful that Alan has agreed to become a patron for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation,” said Sir Bobby’s widow, Lady Elsie.“We know how much effort he already puts into charitable work and it’s no small thing to agree a commitment to another good cause.”